Anegada Iguana (Cyclura pinguis) Fact Sheet: Summary

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Reptilia - reptiles

Order: Squamata

Family: Iguanidae - Iguanas, iguanids, chuckwallas, and American arboreal lizards

Genus: Cyclura

Species: Cyclura pinguis - Anegada Iguana

Body Weight
Males: 4.0 kg (8.8 lb), on average
Female: 2.9 kg (6.4 lb), on average

Snout-Vent Length
Male: 45.0 cm (1.5 ft), on average
Female: 41.3 cm (1.4 ft), on average

Tail Length
About 60 cm (2.0 ft)

Coloration
Dusty brown back legs and sides; dorsal spines can be brilliant turquoise blue

Range
British Virgin Islands (Anegada Island), West Indies (Caribbean Sea)

Habitat
Sandy scrub with woody shrubs, grasses, and a few trees.
Rocky woodland.

IUCN Status
Critically Endangered (2019 assessment)

CITES Appendix
Appendix I (UNEP 2019)

Other Designations
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Endangered

Population in Wild
200-300

Locomotion
Crawl, walk, run. Climb trees often to feed. May reach for food on two back legs.

Activity Cycle
Mainly inactive. Bask in the sun during the morning.

Social Groups
Defend home ranges against individuals of the same sex. May live in groups.

Diet
Leaves and fruits

Predators
Mainly feral cats and dogs. Other observations of native snakes and a kestral preying on transloated Anegada Island iguanas.

Sexual Maturity
Females: around 7-9 years old

Nesting Season
June-July, after spring rains

Incubation Period
90-92 days, on average

Clutch Size
13 eggs, on average (range 1-20)

Typical Life Expectancy
Still being researched but typical life expectancy is probably 60–80 years.

Feature Facts

• Only about 250 individuals remaining; Critically Endangered
• Feral cats kill most small juveniles
• Use visual displays and olfactory channels to communicate
• Strong competition among males
• Eyes flush bright crimson when agitated
• Browsing by these iguanas promotes growth in plants and helps to disperse their seeds
• Compete with free-ranging livestock
• Studied and successfully raised in managed care by the San Diego Zoo; headstarting programs